Stuurman credits new recruits for breathing life to Boland ahead of Ode Cup final

The last time Boland won a Division One title was during the Covid-19 bubble days when they won the CSA T20 Challenge at St George’s Park in Gqeberha in 2022.

After having rather forgetful seasons, the side has been able to turn their ship around in the ongoing CSA One Day Cup, dominating on their way booking a home final.

Boland Seam bowler Glenton Stuurman told Independent Media that their new recruits including Gavin Kaplan and Grant Roelofsen have breathed life into their team.

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“After having a season like we had last year, we knew that we had to do something different and for us, it was getting some new faces in, new energy, a different type of hunger and ultimately everyone that will buy into what we want to achieve as a team,” said Stuurman.

“That’s exactly what we got, a group of players that all want to be successful, who are not just happy to be mid-table but to put ourselves into opportunities to win trophies and the team we have at the moment, everyone plays for each other, it’s a good team environment.

“We all celebrate each other’s successes off and on the field and when the going gets tough we sort of know that everyone is in it and everyone is willing to fight hard to get us over the line.”

Stuurman and his Boland teammates are set to face the Dolphins at Boland Park in Paarl on Sunday, a team that is always very much capable of dominating in spin-friendly conditions.

Stuurman told Independent Media that they are fully aware of the threat the Dolphins pose and the even greater threat that Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj brings.

“We are aware of Kesh being back in the team and how dangerous they are in spinning conditions. But just like we are wary of them, I’m sure they are also wary of us. We want to focus on us, how we’ve been playing at Boland Park,” said Stuurman.

“I mean, we’ve won four out of four and we want to make it five. It’s not going to be easy but we’re confident going into the game. You can’t ask for anything better than to play in the final of any competition at your home ground.”

Though Boland Park will offer a spinning surface, there will be something for the seamers as well, no matter how little. Stuurman has been able to exploit the little the surface offers as a seamer and a new ball bowler.

The 32-year-old emphasised the importance of consistently good lines and lengths in Paarl.

 “It’s definitely not an easy place to bowl as a seam bowler but I sort of started to start to focus again on what made me successful over the years which was to control lining length,” he said.

“I think as a bowler at Boland you forget about the pretty nick-offs and stuff like that and ultimately buy into more straighter fields and knowing that you’re going have to take wickets differently like (0:49) like in St. George’s Park.

“Just do that for as long as you can. Be consistent at hitting the top of off-stump and from there if you do get hit, just trust the process and say let’s see how many of those balls the batter can hit.”